Maybe you’re trying to sell your old wedding ring to make some quick cash. Or perhaps you have a Rolex that’s just collecting dust in a drawer somewhere.
Whatever the case, selling valuables like diamond jewelry and luxury watches isn’t always simple. Between getting an appraisal and finding buyers, you can spend weeks or months trying to sell. And if you sell without an appraisal, you run the risk of not getting a fair price.
But with Worthy, you get a simple sales process and fair market value for your diamond jewelry and luxury watches. Worthy is a good option if you want to deal with professional jewelry buyers instead of that shady pawn shop down the street.
Key Features of Worthy
Worthy is an online jewelry and watch reseller that began in 2014 and operates out of New York City’s Diamond District.
The company lets you sell jewelry through its auction-based system, including:
- Engagement rings
- Diamond wedding rings
- Loose diamonds (0.5-carat diamond minimum)
- Diamond necklaces or bracelets
- Diamond earrings
- Luxury watches (such as Rolex, Breitling, and Bulgari)
Worthy’s team is with you every step of the way, from evaluating and certifying your jewelry to helping you with the auction process. In exchange, Worthy charges fees based on the winning bid amount. This success fee ranges from 10% to 18%,depending on the final sale price.
Overall, it’s a simple and safe way to sell your jewelry online. Worthy says it typically takes 10 to 14 business days to sell your item and get paid after a piece arrives at its headquarters.
And it has various features that likely make it more profitable than selling solo or going to a pawn shop.
Sell Various Diamond Jewelry & Luxury Watches
Diamond rings are a popular category on Worthy, which makes sense since people often sell their engagement rings following divorce.
But Worthy supports more than engagement ring sales. For watches alone, you can sell over 25 brands, including Bulgari, Cartier, Patek Philippe, Piaget, and Rolex. And you can sell in categories like bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings with or without precious stones.
Worthy has various diamond grading requirements and specific types of jewelry it’s looking for. But if you have a diamond or valuable piece of gemstone or luxury jewelry, there’s a good chance you can resell it.
Start the Worthy Presale Process Prior to Shipping Your Jewelry
After navigating to Worthy.com, use the online tool to select the jewelry categories you need and upload photos of each piece. Then, schedule a call with an account manager to go over your pieces and any questions you or Worthy’s team have.
I had a call with a Worthy representative after uploading photos of a diamond necklace. The website let me schedule a call that day, and the representative I spoke to was incredibly friendly and explained more about the sales process, fees, and shipping. When I told them I needed more time to think about the sale, they sent me an email with all the information we had discussed and told me to take my time.
Note that the more information you provide, the better. That means uploading as many photos as possible, including any certification documents or appraisal papers you have. You should also submit photos of different angles of your pieces, especially for watches — the back often has information like a model number.
If you give enough information, Worthy’s sometimes able to offer a rough estimate for the best price you can expect. Additionally, it typically looks for pieces worth $1,000 or more.
Shipping Your Jewelry to Worthy
If Worthy wants your pieces following the call, you ship them to its headquarters. You get a prepaid shipping label and either schedule a FedEx pickup or drop off your package at a FedEx location.
Once it arrives, Worthy inspects and cleans your pieces to get them ready for auction. The team also does a high-definition photo shoot to promote your jewelry.
Finally, Worthy provides a free grading report for your pieces. It partners with labs specializing in diamond evaluation, such as the Gemological Institute of America, the International Gemological Institute, and GHI Gemological Laboratory. As for watches, it partners with Central Watch for gradings and evaluations.
You get a grading report even if you already have one. But having this information is crucial since it helps buyers understand more about your diamonds and pieces. It also helps both parties reach a fair price.
Auction Online to Professional Buyers
Worthy lets you set your own reserve price, which is the lowest price you’re willing to sell your jewelry for. Your auction manager helps explain the process and suggests a reserve price based on the quality of your pieces.
Worthy’s auctions typically last 48 hours and occur entirely online. The company works with over 1,000 professional diamond and jewelry buyers, so you’re selling to industry experts willing to pay a good price for quality pieces. That’s much different from haggling with a local jeweler or selling used diamonds on Craigslist, where you’re probably not dealing with professionals and might encounter scams.
Like any auction, buyers can outbid one another, helping you get a higher price. If someone meets or surpasses your reserve price, it’s a binding bid. That means you must sell your pieces to the buyer at the end of the auction and can’t ask for them back.
If no one meets your reserve price, you can either accept the highest bid or have Worthy return your jewelry for free.
Pay Worthy’s Transparent Fees
Worthy charges fees following a successful auction. Fees are a percentage of the winning bid and depend on the sale amount:
- Up to $5,000: 18% fee
- $5,001 to $15,000: 14% fee
- $15,501 to $30,000: 12% fee
- $30,001 and above: 10% fee
You can also sell multiple items through Worthy’s Jewelry Box program, and this category has an 18% fixed fee regardless of the final sale value.
Overall, Worthy fees take a decent percentage of your profits. However, you’re also selling to professionals through an auction, and you work with an account manager to set a fair reserve price. With other companies, you may not be able to find buyers who are willing to pay market value.
For example, Circa buys directly from you and pays less than the piece is worth so it can resell it and turn a profit. And The RealReal is a consignment shop, so you can only get what it’s worth to the people buying it, which may or may not be market price.
When you compare selling your diamonds with Worthy to haggling with strangers and maybe getting ripped off on Craigslist or the Facebook Marketplace, the fees seem reasonable. That’s especially true if you don’t know what your jewelry is worth.
Get Payments Fast
Worthy payments process within one to five days following a successful auction. There are three different payment methods:
- PayPal: One to two business days; not for sales exceeding $5,000
- Check: Four to five business days
- Bank Transfer (ACH): Two to three business days
Worthy sometimes verifies payment information over the phone following the auction, which delays getting paid. But on average, you get paid within a few weeks from when you ship your pieces to Worthy.
Benefit From Worthy’s Personalized Customer Support
One perk of selling your diamond jewelry through Worthy is the stellar customer support you get along the way. It begins with the phone call you have with your account manager to go over your pieces and questions.
When I had my call with Worthy, the representative explained the entire selling process. They also answered all my shipping and insurance questions and told me I could call or email them with any additional questions. Overall, it was a positive experience, and the whole process took 10 minutes.
The fact that you get an auction manager who helps you set a fair reserve price and manage the auction is also an advantage.
But you don’t have to submit pieces for sale to contact Worthy. You can also reach Worthy customer support at 888-222–0208, Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm Eastern. Alternatively, you can send a message on its contact page to ask for a call back or with any question you have.
The company also has a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot with thousands of reviews. There are some negative customer reviews. But complaints typically stem from people being unhappy with the final auction prices or from slow returns for pieces, which may be outside Worthy’s control.
Get Peace of Mind With Insurance & Security
Shipments shipped to Worthy have insurance by insurers at Lloyd’s of London, and pieces get up to $50,000 in coverage. Pieces worth more than $50,000 can receive additional coverage with preapproval from Worthy at its discretion.
Once Worthy receives your pieces, it inspects them and provides an “expected value range” it believes is fair based on current market value. You then set a reserve price using this information or set a higher one if you prefer.
If it rejects your pieces because they don’t meet quality standards or if you reject a winning bid that’s lower than your reserve price, Worthy ships your pieces back to you for free.
Advantages of Selling With Worthy
It can be tough to decide whether to sell an old engagement ring or bridal set. But Worthy guides you through every step and connects you with professional buyers willing to pay a fair price for your pieces. There are also several advantages to selling with Worthy:
- Jewelry Variety. You can sell a variety of jewelry, watches, and even loose diamonds. And jewelry doesn’t have to be worth tens of thousands of dollars to be eligible.
- Grading System. Free grading on your pieces helps you find a fair price and helps buyers make decisions.
- Customer Service: Worthy takes care of everything, from jewelry cleaning and product photography to running auctions. You also get an intro call and dedicated auction manager to walk you through selling.
- Payment Speed: Worthy pays you within a few days following a successful auction. And the entire process might only take two or three weeks, depending on when your pieces reach its New York office. The flexibility to choose between PayPal cash or direct payments is also a nice perk if you have a preference.
Disadvantages of Selling to Worthy
If you need help selling jewelry and watches, Worthy is one of the best companies to use. However, you pay a premium for stellar customer support, and there are some downsides to consider.
- Auction Fees. Worthy helps you get a fair price for your diamond jewelry and watches. It also speeds up the selling process with its network of professional buyers. But this convenience comes at a cost since you pay up to 18% in fees.
- Returns. If Worthy rejects your pieces or you decline the highest bid above your reserve price, it ships pieces back to you for free. However, returns may take up to two weeks to be processed and shipped back.
- Value Requirement. While it doesn’t state this on its website, the Worthy representative I spoke to said there’s a general $1,000 requirement for pieces you’re selling. If you’re selling less expensive jewelry, Mercari or Etsy (for vintage pieces) might be better alternatives.
How Worthy Stacks Up
Worthy offers a simple way to sell jewelry and watches, and its customer service is one of its strengths. But it’s far from your only option, and competitors like Circa have an entirely different selling process than an online auction.
| Worthy | Circa | |
| Accepted Pieces | Diamond jewelry, fine jewelry, luxury watches | Diamond jewelry, fine jewelry, luxury watches |
| Fees | 10% to 18% | No fees, but pays under market value |
| Selling Options | Online auction | In-person or online direct sale |
| Shipping Costs | Free shipping and returns | Free shipping and returns |
| Payments | PayPal, check, or bank transfer | Check, cash, bank transfer, or a gift card to Blue Nile or Circa |
Final Word
There aren’t many asset classes you can sell in a short amount of time to potentially make thousands of dollars. But when it comes to fine jewelry and luxury watches, you’re dealing with timeless alternative assets that have a lot of value.
However, when you deal with expensive goods, it’s vital you do your due diligence and know the real value of your pieces so you don’t get ripped off. That’s why companies like Worthy exist, and even though you pay fees for its services, you also know you’re getting a fair price.